42 Chevy Pickup Rat Rod

I am so grateful for what I get to do. Ole JuJu and I make the occasional car show. There we make lots of photos. Sometimes we even make new friends. Then it’s back to the Clubhouse for some R & R and Post Production work. Weeks of work manipulating electrons for art. And then there’s car club meetings. Those events usually have a cruise to some scenic spot in a hot rod of some kind. There’s fellowship with like-minded rodders. These fine folks often want a nice pix of their rod by VivaChas! Next thing U know it’s Friday. This great old truck – a 42 Chevy Pickup Rat Rod – like the man who owns it, is a rare breed. ~:0)

Skylark- Dinah Shore,1942

Here’s a little something sweet from Dinah Shore as World War Raged! Then the music ramps up with other musical hits from 1942. – Rare Stuff – not unlike our 42 Chevy Pickup. Music Video Source: Peter Woods

World War II

Why is this old ride any more rare than any other vintage pickup truck? It’s rare b/c with the advent of World War II the U.S. manufacturing industry shifted from peace-time production of consumer goods like cars, trucks and refrigerators to tanks, planes and ships. Civilian goods dwindled. This all happened with the new 1942 production year. New tank – Yes – New pickup – Not so much. Few 42 Chevy Pickup Trucks made it off the lines that fine year. ~:0)

Can U Tell?

Can U tell this 1941 Chevrolet Truck from a 42 Chevy Pickup? Differences only it’s own mother would know. “The 1941 3/4-ton Chevrolet pickup was built on a 125 1/4-inch wheelbase chassis. Series AL 3/4-ton trucks were equipped with 15-inch wheels and tires. This truck sold for $655 retail. (Photo: AAMA)” Source: Don Bunn

Not our 42 Chevy Pickup but a hard working 41 – Can U tell em apart? Pix by AAMA

Rare Beast Indeed!

“A ’42 Chevy Pickup is a rare beast indeed. Only in production for about a month & a 1/2. Dig the rear bumper! Cover the cab with your hand and you can see the Advanced Design bed. Chevy truck designers always knew when they had a good thing. Why else would they stick with the same bed designs for decades? (ex. ’55 1/2- ’66: ’73- ’87) A truly handsome truck.” Source: Old Parked Cars

Two Kinds of Pickups

So we’re agreed. 1942 was a year of great change. And my connection with that great event is through this remarkable piece of Art Deco design – the 42 Chevy Pickup. Who knows what this or any other vintage truck saw during its First Life. Pickups come in two kinds. There’s the work-horse. That kind of truck is used up like bullets. Spent usually in short years and relegated to the scrap heap of time. Or put out to pasture to rust away with a ruined engine or axle. “I’m gonna fix her up one day!”, is spoken over the used up hulk with time never sufficient to to fulfill that prophecy. ~:0)

“Chevrolet pickup’s styling during the Art-Deco Era didn’t change to my knowledge. The 1942 models like this 1942 half-ton pickup’s body trim had paint in place of chrome, however. The truck shown is all-original and has only been driven a total of 9,000 miles. (Photo: D.E. Short)” Source: Don Bunn

Lucky Truck

The other kind of pickup truck might lead another sort of life. This 42 Chevy Pickup puts me in mind of what might be called an “Errand-Truck”. One of these lucky steeds is driven here. It’s driven there. The owner never asks of it too much. Carry home the new sofa. Take the kids to the beach. It’s cared for and loved. It may likely spend its entire life with the same family. Passed down generationally all it has known is love. Lubricated – maintained – it’s always been running. Sure parts wear out. Paint grows thin. But the truck has a long and useful life b/c most of that time it’s carried in it the love of a family. It has been an extension of its owner’s vision of life. It has shared in his pursuits. It is indeed a rare breed. ~:0)

Veritas

I’ve heard it said, “Life is what U make of it.” I know that’s true. Learn this truth early and U’ll have a great run. Learn it later in life and U’ll appreciate it all the more. It’s like this 42 Chevy Pickup. It was born in a time of great upheaval. In its youth there was limited fuel on which to run it b/c of war-rationing. And yet that unsteady start may very well be a part of the reason it’s still with us. A part of its purpose has always been to serve. It has done its work well over the long yonks looking back. And now it serves some more. It lives for fun. It carries happiness wherever it goes. It is a fine old truck with experience written in its seams. Get out there and go for a cruise in an old truck with Ur best friend. And take my advice. Take along some bread, wine and cheese. Make of it a picnic. ~:0) VivaChas Hot Rod Art!